‘Racist rant’ woman to spend Christmas in jail for her own safety

A woman whose alleged racist rant on a tram was filmed will spend Christmas behind bars after death threats were made against her.

Emma West, 34, who has been watched on YouTube by 11 million people, was comforted by a black security guard as she repeatedly broke down in the dock of Croydon Magistrates’ Court. West is accused of committing a racially aggravated public order offence.

“If she had pleaded guilty to the offence, she would have walked home today,” a solicitor working with Ms West said afterwards. But a request for a trial at Crown Court meant that Ms West, from New Addington, was not granted bail and will spend more than five weeks behind bars. She will remain in custody until January 3.